Sanji Posted April 9, 2023 Share #1 Posted April 9, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) Heard from a credible source who works for Leica that they have not manufactured any lenses since December of 2022. Additionally there are only a handful of lens models that are available through the Leica website. Signs point towards discontinuation. Has anyone heard differently? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 9, 2023 Posted April 9, 2023 Hi Sanji, Take a look here Leica S system being discontinued?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
JohnathanLovm Posted April 9, 2023 Share #2 Posted April 9, 2023 Who knows, maybe the lenses are manufactured at different place like Portugal and Japan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter12 Posted April 10, 2023 Share #3 Posted April 10, 2023 It does not strike me as unlikely that the S system is history. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul0303 Posted April 10, 2023 Share #4 Posted April 10, 2023 I saw an Ad on EBay where some S accessories are indicated to be discontinued Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/375312-leica-s-system-being-discontinued/?do=findComment&comment=4746620'>More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted April 10, 2023 Share #5 Posted April 10, 2023 Sanji, The S system is not dead. I received email notice from Leica senior management last January 2022 that Leica appointed a new S program manager. The S4 is under development. Its will be a mirrorless camera. Included will be new S lenses to meet very high MP sensors, fast AF, fast motors and lenses most likely modeled along the SL lens technology to meet professional photographers needing such capabilities well into the future. Stefan Daniel reconfirmed a new S camera is in the works last autumn. I suspect the older S lenses will be backwards compatible with the new S4. People forget, the S system saved Leica. The pros who use the S system (my former self included) used it for creating photographs that needed detail and ability to print very large for such genres of photography as fashion, portraits, landscapes and other niche genres. The S camera was developed long before the SL system. So, I expect and know a stellar S4 camera system is in development. It is not going to be a prosumer camera. Expect the prices to reflect a high end professional camera tool that either meets or exceeds the professional needs/wants and desires. Personally, I expect nothing less from Leica. r/ Mark PS...The current S lenses with updated AF motors are super bargains, along with S007 and S3 cameras. I expect the S4 out in 2025. 7 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardC Posted April 10, 2023 Share #6 Posted April 10, 2023 13 hours ago, Sanji said: they have not manufactured any lenses since December of 2022 That's not unusual. Lenses are made in batches and kept in stock for years. I'm surprised that they made a new batch as recently as December. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Einst_Stein Posted April 10, 2023 Share #7 Posted April 10, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) I assume a S+ or L+ larger diameter (66.5mm) of L-Like Mount larger sensor (45x30) mirror-less is not hard to make. Add S to S+ or L+ adapter to keep S lens alive. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmknoble Posted April 11, 2023 Share #8 Posted April 11, 2023 I too have asked and heard that “the S system is not dead.” I have not heard particulars, and they really remain rumors until they are done, remember the long release time of the S3 while they worked out kinks. I am sure there are changes, which are inevitable and yes, I took advantage of some of the inventory cleaning out, but I also remember public comments from Leica that the current S lenses still had a ways to go. I am sure that these lenses will carry on for a significant time. If Leica produces an S with an EVF, the lenses could be smaller and easier to manufacture and the body will need less CLA from the mirror alignment. I love the OVF and probably wouldn’t go to an S EVF for at least a model generation (and eventually I’ll be too old to switch!). For now, I have faith that the S can be repaired, CLA’d and will continue… 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Richardson Posted April 12, 2023 Share #9 Posted April 12, 2023 (edited) I am also surprised that they were making lenses as recently as December 2022, and frankly not so sure I believe it. There are always all sorts of rumors and inside information floating around, but ultimately not even people working at the lower and mid levels of Leica are likely to know the final decisions. I don't doubt that an S4 is under some sort of development, but it will be upper management who will make a decision at some point as to whether they will actually go to market with it. Leica was pretty adamant about the R10 and the future of the R system until shortly before they discontinued it for good. Same for the CL. The true answer about the future of the S system will be when new S cameras and lenses are shown to the public and available for order...or if Leica makes a truly official statement. Until then, their actions speak louder than their words (or in the S system case, their lack of action). Edited April 12, 2023 by Stuart Richardson 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmknoble Posted April 13, 2023 Share #10 Posted April 13, 2023 I hear you @Stuart Richardson and most of the time would agree with that statement. My caveat is that when they send a unit out for testing, it tells us more. While I am not testing an S4, and no one testing one would be allowed to talk about that, I have asked some questions and believe the answers I have received. I have no clue what the form or timeframe would be, but I have clearly been told the S system is not dead. I would not want to predict past now, but if the M11 has 63mp, and the S3 has 63mp, and the lenses have more room, I have to believe there is one more body left in the S system, and I’d guess an 80mp sensor that can take 60 and 40mp images (like the M11). Just really big WAG there though… 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnian Posted April 13, 2023 Share #11 Posted April 13, 2023 15 hours ago, davidmknoble said: the M11 has 63mp, and the S3 has 63mp, and the lenses have more room From my little experiment of mounting my 30-90mm on my GFX100S the S lenses are definitely up to the challenge of performing on a 100MP sensor. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 13, 2023 Share #12 Posted April 13, 2023 What challenge? Scroll. down to the appendix: https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2019/10/more-ultra-high-resolution-mtf-experiments/ 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanji Posted April 15, 2023 Author Share #13 Posted April 15, 2023 I too want the S system to survive and even expand. The files from the S system along with the rendering of the lenses are nothing short of amazing. However, demand for S lenses and bodies are not on the uptick hence the depreciation of used lenses and bodies. Hope that Leica keeps supporting the system. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZHNL Posted April 16, 2023 Share #14 Posted April 16, 2023 What the difference it makes? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieter12 Posted April 16, 2023 Share #15 Posted April 16, 2023 13 hours ago, ZHNL said: What the difference it makes? About support or the system being discontinued? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZHNL Posted April 16, 2023 Share #16 Posted April 16, 2023 About system discontinued. I don’t feel there is much difference right now. S seems dead quiet for years. I hope mirrorless will bring S life back. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 16, 2023 Share #17 Posted April 16, 2023 2 hours ago, ZHNL said: I hope mirrorless will bring S life back. And maybe one day a monochrome version… the Salgado edition. 🙂 TOP reports that Pentax has had to suspend pre-orders for their new monochrome camera, as demand has exceeded production capacity. Given the copycat world of photography, I wouldn’t be surprised if other companies follow suit, although Fuji could enter the MF mono arena at a much lower price point than Leica. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McMaster Posted April 16, 2023 Share #18 Posted April 16, 2023 Not sure how many they had expected, given it is APS-C and you need Pentax mount lenses..... john Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted April 16, 2023 Share #19 Posted April 16, 2023 5 minutes ago, John McMaster said: Not sure how many they had expected, given it is APS-C and you need Pentax mount lenses..... john Enough to make a decent profit, presumably; not exactly a loss leader. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frame-it Posted April 17, 2023 Share #20 Posted April 17, 2023 On 4/14/2023 at 7:36 AM, jaapv said: the appendix: https://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2019/10/more-ultra-high-resolution-mtf-experiments/ please make that appendix a sticky in the SL/M11 and S parts of the forum! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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